Recently I attended a presentation and groundbreaking near Midland, Michigan, for a unique USDA Rural Development Community Facilities project: A residential treatment center for the Ten Sixteen Recovery Network.

This is an unusual type of project for our agency. Our community facility projects tend to involve a police car, fire truck or township hall. Several people at the event (including news reporters) remarked on this. I pointed out that while a project of this kind may be uncommon, there is nothing usual about it being considered. Fire trucks and police cars tend to dominate community facilities because these tend to be the applications we receive.

USDA Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner and members of the Ten Sixteen Recovery Network break ground for their residential treatment facility.

USDA Rural Development provided a loan and a grant for the new 20-bed, 7,500 square-foot substance abuse treatment facility. The applicant is contributing $510,000 for a total project cost of almost $2 million. The grant funds were made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The facility will be built on a horse farm off of highway M-20 – a beautiful site that is secluded and tranquil – exactly the kind of atmosphere needed to help people find inner peace and the strength to break an addiction.

To learn more about how USDA Rural Development programs can assist your community click here.

USDA Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner presents a certificate to Ten Sixteen Network President and CEO Sam Price at the groundbreaking for their residential treatment facility.